Scotland should aim for more than just a return to yesterday in 2021, says national sight loss charity RNIB Scotland, but work towards a better tomorrow.
“Let’s make sure that the society and structures that we do finally return to are more open and inclusive for everyone,” urged director James Adams.
“Covid highlighted some serious gaps in our provision last year – gaps that were troubling enough in normal times but very alarming during a period of crisis. Vital information that sometimes wasn’t initially available in formats like audio and braille, confusion over social distancing and guiding – not priorities for most people, perhaps, but absolutely essential to those who are blind and partially sighted.”
RNIB Scotland will push for these issues to be given priority in the run up to the Scottish Parliament elections in May – not least a commitment that voting itself will be more accessible for blind and partially people.
It also wants a pledge that there will be no cuts to essential services for vulnerable groups, and that when full NHS eye-health services are resumed there is an emphasis on preventing avoidable sight loss
The charity is concerned, too, to ensure that the new post-covid emphasis on ‘active travel’ – which could see the legalisation of rented e-scooters – doesn’t infringe on the rights of people with disabilities to go safely outdoors. It will also call for a looming shortage of specialist school-teachers for children with sight loss to be addressed as a matter of urgency.
“After the shock that was covid in 2020 we need to make our society safer and more resilient,” said Mr Adams. “But let’s grab this opportunity to make it fairer, too. Covid gave us all a sense of what it’s like to feel more vulnerable and unsure, more dependent on others. We must return to a Scotland where no one is left exposed at the margins.”
* The RNIB Helpline can be called on 0303 123 9999. The RNIB Scotland website is at www.rnib.org.uk/scotland.
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